I finally had my first experience with the new backscatter x-ray machines at an airport security line last week. I was unable to see what the TSA saw as they looked through my clothes, though I did walk away with a few observations of my own.
First, as I was about to go through the usual metal detector device, a TSA agent asked to remove my belt. How this little piece of a belt buckle could take off a bottle cap, let alone take down an airliner is beyond me. Since I never proactively remove my belt, the time wasted and humiliation element of the experience notwithstanding, it is the inconsistency of the request that most disturbs me and shakes to the foundation my faith and trust in the staff at the TSA.
Since I admittingly gave the TSA agent a little bit of attitude for her asking me to remove my belt, (but allowed me to keep on my chunky, solid steel watch which in addition to weighing 5 times more than my belt buckle, could probably represent a weapon of mass destruction if thrown hard enough), she then asked me to step into the backscatter x-ray machine. The watch did not set off the metal detector by the way. Never does.
Second, though I (hopefully) do not represent an obvious threat to airline safety, as I possess none of the notable, empirical characteristics associated with would-be terrorists (except being a male): young, from middle-eastern or African descent, possibly Muslim, on a watch or do-not-fly list, possessing a one-way ticket, paid for ticket in cash, no checked luggage, sweating or fidgeting in line…I could go on. I am, in contrast, a frequent flyer, family man and in no possession of any radical views or positions (other than privatizing or otherwise banning the TSA.) Had any other terrorist ever boarded a flight with a Kindle?
So I took the request to go though the x-ray scanner as a purely punitive measure on the part of the TSA agent – not a random check, mind you, but a minor punishment as only a petty tyrant with no other power outlet than that at her disposal might inflict.
Finally, I had to remove everything – literally everything – out of my pockets including my wallet and 3 small vitamins before the scanner would work. Isn’t the point of the device to be able to detect stuff in my pocket or in my person?!?
In theory, I am not opposed to security measures to prevent or thwart terrorism on airplanes. I am one of the primary beneficiaries of security since I travel so much and am statistically more likely to incur an incident than your average American. What I do always question however, and I’ve said this before in previous posts, is the seeming lack of consistency and reason behind much the decision and apparatus in place. The response is that it is done intentionally so as not to allow terrorists to get comfortable with the TSA technique’s. Playing dumb so as to allow the enemy underestimate you? Fine. Classic move from the Art of War. I would love that idea if it could ever be true of the TSA.
Playing dumb, however, should not be an operational strategy for a business. It doesn’t work for me at my job, at home or anywhere else in the real world. The market severely punishes any company in the private sector if that is their approach – it does it all the time to drug companies that fail FDA tests or mischaracterize the benefits or uses of their drugs. And these kinds of events kill more people than terrorists have ever done!
Let’s privatize the TSA and hold them to the same standards as a private company. Once we make them play by the same rules and standards of transparency as the private sector, then we can begin to peel away the layers of charade and concentrate on the real measures of security that will ensure flyer’s safety without having to frustrate us into submission. And let us keep our clothes on and our dignity intact.
